The Ministry of Health is calling for stronger and more sustainable blood collection and distribution systems to ensure health facilities across Kenya have reliable access to safe blood supplies.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga made the call on Tuesday during a visit to the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service (KNBTS) headquarters and the Nairobi Regional Blood Transfusion Centre. Oluga said Kenya must adopt innovative approaches to blood collection, testing, processing and distribution to address existing gaps and strengthen the country’s blood transfusion system.
Blood Supply Critical to Healthcare
The PS emphasised that a dependable blood transfusion system is essential to the delivery of Universal Health Coverage, particularly because blood is needed in a wide range of medical situations.
He noted that consistent access to safe blood is crucial in maternal and newborn care, emergency and critical care, cancer treatment and the management of anaemia. Oluga stressed the need for a system capable of providing blood services around the clock to ensure patients receive timely treatment when needed.
Oluga Inspects Blood Transfusion Operations
During his tour, Oluga assessed various operations at KNBTS facilities, including blood banking, specialised testing, preparation of blood components and quality management systems. He also engaged with blood donors and KNBTS employees to understand their experiences and hear about challenges affecting blood collection and processing.
The interactions provided an opportunity to identify areas where additional support and improvements may be required to strengthen the national blood supply chain.
Call for Stronger County Collaboration
Oluga urged KNBTS to deepen its cooperation with county governments as part of efforts to establish more sustainable blood collection models across the country. He said stronger coordination between national and county health authorities would help improve the availability and distribution of blood to facilities that need it.
The PS also encouraged greater use of blood products such as plasma, saying this would help maximise the value of every blood donation and improve the efficiency of the transfusion system.
Ministry Backs Innovation
Oluga pledged the Ministry of Health’s support for practical innovations aimed at improving blood collection and transfusion services.
He said the government remains committed to developing an internationally accredited blood transfusion service while improving standards across the entire blood supply chain.
The Ministry’s priorities include increasing the availability of blood, strengthening testing and processing procedures and ensuring supplies reach health facilities on time.
The government says these measures are aimed at building a more reliable blood transfusion system capable of supporting patients across the country. Oluga was received during the visit by KNBTS Director Dr. Martin Sirengo, Dr. Mamo and other officials and staff from the service.
